Downton Abbey: All Is Fair In Love And War

You Only Read Oscar Wilde

Downton Village,
April 1917

"Can you manage here tonight on your own, Thomas?" Sybil said as she made the bed next to Lieutenant Courtenay "Mother and father do not seem to understand the importance of my work." She threw Branson a look as he seemed rather forlorn.

"I was just sent here to get you Lady Sybil." Tom Branson said apologetically.

"I am going up there for dinner myself, it's important to take care of yourself too Sybil, don't you agree Barrow?" Isobel Crowley turned to the Corporal with a smile.

Thomas ran his tongue over his teeth and nodded with a smile. If only this woman knew that Thomas could still taste her son upon his lips, her smile would be wiped from her face. He walked around with a secret that would shock everyone, not that he would ever tell — that would mean prison for both him and Matthew. While Matthew would be fine afterwards Thomas would lose his job, he would lose everything and Matthew included. So he kept his mouth shut, but he still knew something they didn't and the thought alone made him feel rather superior.

"Don'worry Lady Sybil, if anything too severe happens I will call up on Major Clarkson" Thomas gave Sybil a small bow, as he often did out of habit from when he had first served her as a footman. "And don't bite the messenger...." Thomas looked at Branson and said under his breath, but just loud enough for the chauffeur to hear; "unless that is what you wish."

Tom Branson squinted his eyes at Thomas, unsure if he had heard correctly. Did this former footman know something he shouldn't? Just the thought of that sent anxiety through the chauffeur's body. If Thomas Barrow, of all people, knew about his feelings for Sybil it could mean blackmail or worse — Tom could lose his job if this man decided to find proof. Tom knew enough about Thomas, from what everyone had told him at Downton, that he was a man with only the best intentions for no one but himself.

"You're no longer a footman, Thomas, there is no need for such formalities here" Sybil said, oblivious to Thomas' comment, with a smile and filled one last cup of water for an Officer before removing her apron.

"Don't let Mr Carson hear you say that." Thomas said, before realising that of course Carson had no longer any rights to tell him what to do, the butler had no power over him any longer. "Sybil, Branson, Mrs Crawley" He said goodbye to the three with a nod before turning to the patients but then he was reminded. "Sybil" He said and the daughter of the Earl stopped in her steps.

"Yes, Thomas?" She said with that kind smile she had always worn. If he was bent differently she would surely be a girl Thomas would pursue, but he was not and somewhere in the French trenches laid what his heart truly yearned for.

"I wished to pop by a shop in the village tomorrow, while they are open, would you mind covering for me then?" He asked and Sybil nodded before disappearing to follow Mrs Crawley and Branson outside to the car that awaited them.

Night fell and Thomas sat in a chair by the window, glancing out and thinking about how a war had brought him the best years of his life. Even if Matthew was away in the trenches Thomas knew he was loved by someone, cared by someone — he just hoped that he would return, and return alive.

"Corporal?" A voice said followed by a cough and Thomas drew his thoughts away from Matthew and back to the hospital wing. "Corporal Barrow, could I trouble you for water?"

"Most certainly Lieutenant Courtenay." Thomas said and rose to walk and fetch the jug to carry out the request. The Lieutenant was certainly younger looking than him, but he wondered if it was just the bandages that covered his eyes. Thomas saw the scars poking out from underneath it. What a terrible thing mustard gas was, and how lucky Thomas felt that he had never encountered it up close. "Anything else Lieutenant Courtenay?"